How easy is it to change the brushes on a washing machine?

OctopusSay · 2022-04-24T12:37:59+00:00

It's something I've often heard people say they've done but I don't really know what's involved. How easy is it to get to the motor to do it? Is it hard physically? I feel like I should give it a go, but actually don't even find it easy to pull the machine out. Am I mad to try?

DropYourSword · 24/04/2022 13:39

Brushes??

BeyondPurpleTulips · 24/04/2022 13:40

DropYourSword · 24/04/2022 13:39

Brushes??

...yeah, I'm with you there

Forestdweller11 · 24/04/2022 13:42

The changing is not difficult in itself, but the machine will need physically moving about, and will depend on where the motor is. My DP has done ours and I probably could - but I wouldn't be able to actually physically move the machine to do it.

Original poster

OctopusSay · 24/04/2022 13:43

I don't think you're the people I need

Carbon brushes in a washing machine transfer the power from the motor to the bit that makes the drum spin. They get worn out but are very cheap to buy. I know the theory, I just don't know what exactly is involved in changing them.

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Knittedfairies · 24/04/2022 13:44

My husband has done it a couple of times. The main problem is heaving the machine about to get at the motor though.

Knittedfairies · 24/04/2022 13:44

YouTube it!

Original poster

OctopusSay · 24/04/2022 13:45

Forestdweller11 · 24/04/2022 13:42

The changing is not difficult in itself, but the machine will need physically moving about, and will depend on where the motor is. My DP has done ours and I probably could - but I wouldn't be able to actually physically move the machine to do it.

Yes, this is what worries me and I worry about the damage I might do to myself and the kitchen floor etc in trying.

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SockFluffInTheBath · 24/04/2022 13:45

Depends, some can be done and some can’t. DH used to change them on our older machines but in the last one it wasn’t serviceable. If it can be done then it’s pretty straightforward.

EarringsandLipstick · 24/04/2022 13:46

I had someone in doing this to my machine recently.

As well as the points others made, about moving the machine, it was messy.

Definitely worth getting someone in

DramaAlpaca · 24/04/2022 13:49

I'm not entirely sure of the technicalities but if the carbon brushes have worn down too much, the washing machine won't spin.

It's a small part and inexpensive. It is a bit fiddly to fit, but doable with the aid of YouTube.

DH has changed them on our 15 year old machine a couple of times. There's a bit of swearing and grumbling involved due to the awkwardness of access, but he insists on doing it because it only costs around a tenner for the part.

Original poster

OctopusSay · 24/04/2022 13:53

DramaAlpaca · 24/04/2022 13:49

I'm not entirely sure of the technicalities but if the carbon brushes have worn down too much, the washing machine won't spin.

It's a small part and inexpensive. It is a bit fiddly to fit, but doable with the aid of YouTube.

DH has changed them on our 15 year old machine a couple of times. There's a bit of swearing and grumbling involved due to the awkwardness of access, but he insists on doing it because it only costs around a tenner for the part.

Yes this is why I feel ahold have a go, nothing to lose really, unless I hurt myself! I do have two teen sons who really should be able to help and we'll have an amazing sense of achievement if it works, but it could also be quite stressful

It feels important to demonstrate that things can be fixed cheaply rather than replaced every time too

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Original poster

OctopusSay · 24/04/2022 13:54

If I get someone in, it's nearly cheaper to replace it and it's of an age where something else is likely to go wrong before long.

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Original poster

OctopusSay · 24/04/2022 13:56

Interesting that on a site of strong independent women, it's the DHs who have done it

I don't have a DH, I do have a Dad who I'm sure would have been able to do it but he's late 70s now.

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Thinkingblonde · 24/04/2022 14:03

Brushes in motors are not like an Addis sweeping brush.
From memory: They are pieces of carbon attached to wires and are spring loaded so that they are always in contact with the armature of the electric motor.
YouTube has instructional videos on how to replace them.
DH said it’s easy enough to do but might not be worth the effort as it may not worn brushes causing whatever problem. Or it may be the worn brushes but something else is kaput.
My neighbour paid £80 in repairs ( quoted worn brushes ). The repair lasted three months, new brushes are fine but the circuit board has now packed in…£250.00 quoted for a new one, she’s cut her losses and bought a new washer.

Anomalocaris · 24/04/2022 14:04

The domestic appliance repair bloke who did mine a few weeks ago tore his arms to ribbons accessing mine (Bosch), so it might depend on your machine how easy access is.

BarbaraofSeville · 24/04/2022 14:07

It depends on the machine how easily it is to get inside. Look for the service manual and youtube videos for your machine.

I was going to get DP to change the door seal on our old machine because I'm not one of those people who do endless service washes and wipe it down every week so it was looking very grotty. However, on investigation, you had to take the machine apart and approach it from the back as it were, so it looked like too much hassle.

However, for our new one, you just have to pop a giant metal clip off the front and do it that way, much simpler.

Youtube is great for this sort of thing - I cleaned out and replaced a part inside our catflap the other day after following a video. The motor inside had got grotted up with dust and hair (the reason why cats are clean is that they deposit all their muck elsewhere) and with two teen DSs, you've sufficient help with the physical side of shifting the machine around, unless you're my sister, who has two teen DSs who moan and complain about it being 'too hard' if asked to do anything as simple as help change a lightbulb even though they're both well over 6 foot and can reach a lot of them without even standing on a chair.

Original poster

OctopusSay · 24/04/2022 14:25

Thinkingblonde · 24/04/2022 14:03

Brushes in motors are not like an Addis sweeping brush.
From memory: They are pieces of carbon attached to wires and are spring loaded so that they are always in contact with the armature of the electric motor.
YouTube has instructional videos on how to replace them.
DH said it’s easy enough to do but might not be worth the effort as it may not worn brushes causing whatever problem. Or it may be the worn brushes but something else is kaput.
My neighbour paid £80 in repairs ( quoted worn brushes ). The repair lasted three months, new brushes are fine but the circuit board has now packed in…£250.00 quoted for a new one, she’s cut her losses and bought a new washer.

Yes, I know what they are.

This is why I won't be calling a "repair man". If DS and I can do it for £10/£20 it might be an interesting challenge, but I don't think it's worth spending more on the machine.

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SamphirethePogoingStickerist · 24/04/2022 14:31

I have changed ones on an older machine, made to be mended. DF was a 'domestic appliance engineer' for many years. I was young and determined.

These days I would request a man to do the humping of the machine and opening of the top (sometimes access is from the top, sometimes the back) as the metal us wickedly thin and sharp.

If you can find a YouTube of your exact make and model I'd give it a whirl. But do have a packet of plasters to hand 🙂

InkySquid · 24/04/2022 15:02

Do you know there are definitely brushes to change, our current and previous machines had brushless motors?

Didn't stop lots of people online trying to advise to change the bushes when I was trying to work out why our previous machine was only working intermittently

Original poster

OctopusSay · 24/04/2022 15:12

When I Google the error code, it says it's a problem with the motor, probably brushes.

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DramaAlpaca · 24/04/2022 15:15

OctopusSay · 24/04/2022 13:56

Interesting that on a site of strong independent women, it's the DHs who have done it

I don't have a DH, I do have a Dad who I'm sure would have been able to do it but he's late 70s now.

As a strong independent woman I'd be delighted to do it myself. Frustratingly, I'm just not physically strong enough to heft the machine around. With a couple of teen sons you'll be fine. Very useful are teen sons for that kind of thing. You can direct operations

SockFluffInTheBath · 24/04/2022 15:23

As a strong independent woman I'd be delighted to do it myself. Frustratingly, I'm just not physically strong enough to heft the machine around.

same, just like working on a car- I know how to change the brake pads but the springs are too damned strong for my hands.

CareBearsCare · 24/04/2022 15:24

OctopusSay · 24/04/2022 13:43

I don't think you're the people I need

Carbon brushes in a washing machine transfer the power from the motor to the bit that makes the drum spin. They get worn out but are very cheap to buy. I know the theory, I just don't know what exactly is involved in changing them.

There's probably someone on YouTube doing this for your machine.

Oldraver · 24/04/2022 15:42

I used to change mine on a machine circa 20 years ago. They use to wear down quite easily

I cant even move the lastest machine

Belkell · 24/04/2022 15:53

Oldraver · 24/04/2022 15:42

I used to change mine on a machine circa 20 years ago. They use to wear down quite easily

I cant even move the lastest machine

This is me,

i can do it, I have done it… but nowadays I need help hauling the machine out and newer machines just aren’t designed to be user serviceable in the way the old ones were.